On Monday evening, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana, presented Budget 2025 in the House of Representatives, calling it a “positive budget.” Prime Minister Robert Abela said that the theme of the budget is “A Country of Quality.”

The PN Spokesperson for Gozo Alex Borg, has written on social media this evening that “capital expenditure specifically for Gozo has decreased by €4.75 million from last year, taking it down to pre-2020.”

No major projects for Gozo have been highlighted so far in the budget.

Some of the points of this Budget announced for Gozo and of general interest, are shown below, and may be updated:

There will be a new office opened in Gozo for the Occupational Health and Safety Authority.

Infrastructure on arterial roads will be improved, however no details were given.

The 40,000 grant for first-time byers of Gozo vacant properties will be retained, if property built over 20-years ago and been vacant for over 7 years.

Conservation work on the aqueducts in Victoria will start, as well as emergency works on Ghar Gerduf in Kercem.

Caruana said that as from next year the Gozo Museum will be interactive, for Gozitan artists to exhibit.

The Government will continue the projects in Gozo of restoring historical places and niches.

Speaking on tourism, Caruana said “Gozo’s unique characteristics must be protected.”

The Electric vehicle purchase scheme will now go down to 8,000 for cars and up to 2,000 for electric motorcycles. There will be extra support for Gozo registered vehicles being scrapped of €1,000.

Cost of living Allowance (COLA will be €5.24 per week. The Finance Minister said that students will see an increase on stipends on a pro-rata basis in line with this. The minimum wage will increase by €8.24 per week as announced last year.

Subsidies on energy prices, fuels and cereals, wheat and animal feed will continue.

There will be an €8 increase in pensions per week, this includes the COLA. Pensioners who continue working will now have 80% of their pensions as non-taxable, up from 60%.

Those born after 1976 will have to pay an extra year of National Insurance in order to receive a full pension

Elderly aged 75-79 who live in the community will receive a €350 payment, up from €300, those aged over 80 will receive €450 as before.

A tax refund cheque will be applicable to all workers on less than €60,000 per year.

Tax-free threshold to increase to €12,000, the 15% tax rate applies between €12,001 and €16,000, 25% applies between €16,001 and €60,000, 35% on those earning €60,000. Tax-free threshold for married couples is €15,000.

Children’s allowance to increase by €250 per child irrespective of income.

Government commits to modernising over 100 schools during the next 13 years. Also to finance 8 projects annually to prioritise sustainability, this includes new schools in Gozo.

Government to cover first 6 months of gym memberships for those born in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

File photo: Gozo News/Alain Salvary

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